Russia

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Pope Francis meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican on May 13, 2023, their first meeting since the start of the full-scale war with Russia.

Pope Francis speaks with Zelenskyy about peace efforts in Ukraine

Dec 29, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the pontiff expressed “his wishes of peace — just peace for all of us” during... Read more

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, Moscow, Russia.

Moscow Archdiocese urges return of memorial for bishop imprisoned by Stalin regime

Oct 27, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Earlier this month, plaques dedicated to political and religious prisoners who died at Vladimir Central Prison under the communist regime... Read more

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral legislative body, located in Kiev.

Ukraine Parliament advances bill seen to ban Russia-linked Orthodox church from country

Oct 24, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The law is widely seen as targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC). Read more

Refugees load a truck in Goris on Sept. 26, 2023, before leaving to Yerevan. A continuous stream of vehicles crept along the only road out of Nagorno-Karabakh toward Armenia, carrying tens of thousands of refugees now faced with an uncertain future.

Nearly all ethnic Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh 

Oct 3, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

According to the Armenian government, 100,617 Nagorno-Karabakh refugees — out of a population of 120,000 – have been “forcibly displaced.” Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a high level Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 20, 2023.

More Republicans hesitant on Ukraine funding as Zelenskyy talks to lawmakers, UN

Sep 20, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

A number of legislators are expressing reservations about sending more aid to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making his... Read more

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sept. 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sept. 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person.

Vatican cardinal to make charity mission to Ukraine city hit by Russian drones

Sep 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is in Ukraine this week to open the House of Refuge “in the name of Pope Francis,... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky on Sept. 18, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with new Russian ambassador to the Vatican

Sep 18, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The meeting comes days after papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Beijing to discuss efforts to bring about peace in... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy.

Cardinal Zuppi meets with Chinese official to discuss peace in Ukraine

Sep 15, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi met with Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more

Pope Francis stands beside Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh in Sukhbaatar Square in front of the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 2, 2023.

Pope Francis: ‘Mongolia is a symbol of religious freedom’

Sep 1, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called Mongolia a “symbol of religious freedom” in his first speech in the Asian country sandwiched between China... Read more

Young Catholics participating in the 10th edition of the Russian Youth Gathering in St. Petersburg, Russia, watch a livestream of Pope Francis at the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria on Aug. 25, 2023.

Pope Francis encourages young Russian Catholics to be ‘bridge builders’

Aug 26, 2023

By Alexey Gotovskiy

Without referring directly to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Holy Father called on the youth to pursue peace “in the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in his Sunday Angelus on July 16, 2023.

Pope Francis calls Russia to renew Ukraine grain deal

Jul 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, that the Black Sea Initiative be restored and grain... Read more

An undated ID photo of journalist Evan Gershkovich.

24-hour read-a-thon highlights wrongful detention of WSJ journalist Evan Gerschkovich

Jul 19, 2023

By Zoe Romanowsky

Journalists, as well as family and friends, are gathering in D.C., London, and Singapore to highlight the unjust arrest of... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Cardinal Zuppi meets with Biden to discuss humanitarian work in Ukraine

Jul 19, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The pope’s special envoy met with President Joe Biden Tuesday evening to discuss the Vatican’s humanitarian efforts in war-torn Ukraine. Read more

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Vatican diplomat: Pope Francis ‘stubbornly believes in peace’ 

Jul 18, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher last week defended what he described as Pope Francis’ “strong and courageous” push for peace in... Read more

Cluster bomb.

Bishop expresses ‘moral concern’ over U.S. provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine

Jul 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Defense Department announced last week it would be sending “additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense... Read more

A photograph taken on July 3, 2022 shows an tail section of a 300mm rocket which appear to contained cluster bombs launched from a BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher embedded in the ground after shelling in Kramatorsk, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden administration to send cluster bombs to Ukraine: What has the Church said?

Jul 7, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Cluster bombs are mass casualty arms that present a grave threat to civilians both because of their large impact area... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, during a consistory Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal Zuppi to go to Moscow this week as Pope Francis’ peace envoy

Jun 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Zuppi will arrive in Russia’s capital less than one week after a paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group rebelled... Read more

Pope Francis’ envoy to Ukraine Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on June 6, 2023, finished a “brief but intense” two-day visit to Kyiv, which included a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Papal envoy to Ukraine meets with President Zelenskyy, concludes ‘intense’ visit

Jun 6, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Pope Francis’ envoy to Ukraine Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on Tuesday finished a “brief but intense” two-day visit to Kyiv. Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy.

Cardinal Zuppi arrives in Ukraine to begin work as Vatican peace envoy

Jun 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi arrived in Kyiv on Monday to carry out the peace mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis. Read more

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, was made a cardinal during the consistory of Oct. 5, 2019.

Vatican: Italian cardinal entrusted with Ukraine peace mission

May 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has strong ties to the influential Sant’Egidio Community, which has helped negotiate reconciliation in countries like South... Read more